The move was designed to head off a possible defeat when MPs vote on Ms Cooper’s amendment.

Ms Cooper did not drop her amendment, because she wants to hold Mrs May to her word – although the government has said it accepts the proposal.

Conservative MP Alberto Costa’s amendment, which seeks to protect the rights of UK citizens in the EU and vice versa, even if there is a no-deal Brexit, was accepted by the House without a vote, after the government said they supported it.

Mr Costa said he was still forced resign as an aide to Scottish Secretary David Mundell because of a convention that members of the government cannot table amendments to government motions.